Pakistan’s Supreme Court Lifts Travel Ban on Pervez Musharraf

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — The Pakistani Supreme Court on Wednesday withdrew a travel ban imposed on the former military ruler Pervez Musharraf, paving the way for him to seek medical treatment abroad even as he awaits trial on treason charges.

Mr. Musharraf is accused of subverting the Constitution in late 2007 when he declared emergency rule and fired almost all the senior judiciary, and he faces the possibility of a death sentence if convicted.

The case has caused a major rift between the civilian government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who was deposed by the coup that brought Mr. Musharraf to power in 1999, and the powerful military establishment, which has been wary of having its former chief put on trial. No one who once led the army had been the target of criminal prosecution before Mr. Musharraf.

On Wednesday, a five-member bench of the Supreme Court, overseen by Chief Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali, turned down an appeal by the federal government of a lower-court ruling that lifted the travel restrictions, which have been in effect since 2013. However, the court noted that the government would be allowed to take additional legal measures that could restrict or regulate Mr. Musharraf’s movements.

“If the federation thinks Musharraf should not leave the country, then it should decide the matter itself,” Chief Justice Jamali said.

There was no immediate comment from Mr. Sharif or other senior government officials.

Senator Aitzaz Ahsan, an opposition leader from the Pakistan Peoples Party, expressed surprise at the court verdict, saying it was unlikely that Mr. Musharraf would return to face justice if he left the country. “Musharraf had failed to appear in some courts and was effectively an absconder from justice,” he said in a statement released to the news media. “Nonbailable warrants for his production in courts trying him on serious charges had also been issued.”

Faisal Chaudhry, a lawyer on Mr. Musharraf’s defense team, said in an interview that the justices had criticized the government for shifting responsibility to the court.

“Mr. Musharraf’s name cannot be put on the Exit Control List,” Mr. Chaudhry said, referring to an official roster of Pakistanis barred from foreign travel. “The government would have to come up with very solid reasons if it wants to stop Mr. Musharraf from traveling abroad.”

Mr. Chaudhry said he had conveyed the court ruling to the former leader. “It is now up to him and his doctors to decide when and how he travels,” Mr. Chaudhry said.

Mr. Musharraf, 72, has been in poor health in recent months and has frequently visited hospitals in Karachi, the southern port city where he lives, complaining of severe back and neck pain. His lawyers have insisted that he be allowed to travel to seek medical treatment.

Mr. Musharraf has been ordered to appear on March 31 before a three-member special court to record his statement in the treason proceedings. But skeptics and critics say he might not return to the country if he were allowed to leave.

Mr. Musharraf ruled until 2008, when he was forced to resign under threat of impeachment. He subsequently went into self-imposed exile but returned to the country in 2013, hoping to carve out a political career. Instead, he wound up ensnared in various court cases, the most potent being the treason case.

Mr. Musharraf has denounced the treason charges as politically motivated.

It appeared that preparations were already underway for Mr. Musharraf to leave Pakistan. Local news outlets reported that Mr. Musharraf would first go to Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates, and then to London.

Aasia Ishaque, an official of Mr. Musharraf’s political party, All Pakistan Muslim League, said in an interview that the former leader had been moved from Ziauddin Hospital, where he had been under treatment for three days, to his residence. “We cannot confirm his travel plans right now,” Ms. Ishaque said.

A version of this article appears in print on , on Page A10 of the New York edition with the headline: Travel Ban on Ex-Leader of Pakistan Is Lifted. Order Reprints | Today’s Paper | Subscribe